EFFECT OF CURCUMIN AND ALLICIN ON PRODUCTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS OF MANDRA CHICKENS

A total number of 210 hens and 21 cocks, at 28 wks old of Mandara chickens were randomly divided into seven equal treatment groups (30 hens and 3 cocks in treat) and distributed among three equal replicates of 10 females and 1 cock in each. The first group was kept as a control group, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were fed a diet containing 50, 75 and 100 mg curcumin/ kg diet and the 5th, 6th and 7th groups were fed a diet containing 50, 75 and 100 mg allicin/ kg feed, respectively. Each curcumin and allicin improved significantly feed conversion ratio and increased egg mass compared to the control group. Egg production significantly increased with medium or high levels of curcumin and allicin groups compared with the other groups. Red blood cells count, packed cell volume, plasma protein, and globulin significantly increased with curcumin and allicin group compared with the control group. Total lipids, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein significantly decreased in all groups of curcumin and allicin compared to the control group. Curcumin groups and medium or high levels of allicin significantly increased fertility percentage compared with the low level of allicin and control groups. In addition, the hatchability percentage increased in all levels of curcumin and allicin compared with the control group. However, dead embryos significantly decreased in all groups of allicin compared with the curcumin groups and control group. It was concluded from the present study that high level of curcumin or medium level of allicin increased the survival rate, egg production, egg mass, improved FCR, hatchability traits, and some blood parameters of Mandra chickens.